Monday 8 March is an important date in the calendar for women around the world – it marks 110th annual International Women’s Day (IWD).
It’s a day that celebrates the women and the women’s rights movement, raises awareness of equality and justice, and fundraises for some amazing women’s charities.
In some countries the day is a public holiday and is celebrated in the way that we would traditionally celebrate Mother’s Day, with gestures of flowers and small gifts being given to women. Whilst the UK doesn’t quite recognise it on this level, there is normally a big series of events. But as this year’s IWD falls within lockdown restrictions, it’s no surprise that celebrations will be held virtually.
The official theme for this year’s IWD is #ChooseToChallenge. The key message is to “celebrate women’s achievement, raise awareness against bias and take action for equality”. So, to mark the event in keeping with this year’s theme, Manchester-based record label, Do As You Please (DAYP), will be hosting an online showcase of female music talent.
DJ Giles will be playing the event.
The DAYP 12-hour display will be held this Saturday (March 6) from 11am to 11pm. There’ll be eight mixes to enjoy from some of the best women in the business – not just from Manchester but representing the entire UK.
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Joining the lineup is a whole host of radio presenters and DJs including Emma Rose from Pie Radio, Spin City co-founder Tañ, and London’s Kloyd, as well as DJs ThtGrl from Manchester’s Not Bad For A Girl collective, Norfn Gyal, Aletha, Saachi and Giles.
Women have been underrepresented in the music industry for years – especially in electronic music scene which is massively male-dominated. You only have to look at a festival lineup for a bit of proof. But this is the case in all aspect of the industry, as just 21.7% of popular music artists and 2.1% of producers are said to be women.
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Reasons for this are up for discussion – but how long do you have?!
Really, it boils down to limited opportunities, stereotypes and bias – and the stats speak for themselves as just 5 of DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs were women in 2019.
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Inclusivity, equality and diversity is paramount to the ethos of DAYP and this is the drive behind their IWD celebration this weekend. The label’s founder, Niall Roche, said: “At Do As You Please, we have a strong outlook on artist development and proper impartial opportunities within the music industry.
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“We’re only a relatively new business but it’s become blatant that there is massive gender inequality within dance music and I’d like to find and support this generation’s female talent so that the next generation have role models to look up to.”
Aletha will be playing the event.
Tune in via the DYAP website here and let’s all celebrate IWD in true 2021 virtual style.
Music
Lola Young shares first public statement since cancellations and stepping away from the spotlight
Danny Jones
UK pop star Lola Young has shared her first public statement since cancelling the remainder of her tour and stepping away from the spotlight.
Lola Young, 24, took a break from her still-burgeoning career after numerous concerning incidents on stage, including throwing up and even passing out in the middle of a performance.
The BRIT School graduate announced the unfortunate cancellation of her upcoming shows “for the foreseeable future”, including a gig here in Manchester, at the end of September.
Breaking her silence after the best part of three months, the London-born singer-songwriter took to social media in a fairly brief but heartwarming statement.
As you can see, the time away from the public eye certainly seems to have been beneficial, telling her followers that “it has helped more than you will ever know”.
In addition to embracing ADHD – even labelling her hit song ‘Messy’ as an “ADHD anthem” in multiple anthems – she was also diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder at just 17.
The latter can include symptoms such as psychosis, hallucinations, intense mood swings, bipolar mania, depression and more.
All that being said, we’re glad to hear that she’s on the mend; we saw her back in March, and you could tell from the crowd that she’s already got a very passionate cult following.
Both conditions and their associated obstacles have obviously affected her, but have equally helped influence her music and lyrical material, certainly, too.
Responding in the comments, fellow artist SZA wrote: “Love you, starfire angel. Your music is FULL of longevity and substance! We’re so grateful for you”.
Joining in support, ‘dark pop’ musician Carter James added, “Your wellbeing comes before anything. So excited for your next chapter whenever it arrives!”
We hope she’ll be doing better enough soon to get back on stage when she’s ready.
Fans are preparing to pay tribute to Mani from The Stone Roses ahead of his funeral service
Danny Jones
Stone Roses fans and Greater Manchester locals alike are getting ready to pay their respects to the late, great, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, following his tragic passing last month.
As well as details surrounding his funeral being announced earlier this week, the iconic Manc musician’s cause of death has also finally been revealed.
While Hatton’s service featured a high-profile cortège which started all the way from his hometown of Hyde, past multiple landmarks and ending at the Etihad Stadium, those local to Mani’s family home on the edge of Stockport are also being welcomed to help send him off.
It's the funeral of Mani of the Stone Roses on the 22nd. He lived locally. This poster is asking people to line the route of his funeral cortege to "show that he truly was adored". pic.twitter.com/X0DYHl10Hp
He had been struggling with emphysema for some time; he was declared dead at his home in the suburb of Heaton Moor, and is said to have died peacefully in his sleep.
As you can see from the posters put in various places around the area, residents wishing to pay their own tributes to Mani before his private funeral service at Manchester Cathedral are encouraged to line the long street leading down from St Paul’s and Heaton Moor United Church as he heads towards the city.
Departing Parsonage Road from 10am on Monday, 22 December, before turning right onto Heaton Moor Rd, then Wellington and eventually on to the Cathedral, you can expect plenty of people to show up.
One of those people will be his former bandmate and another influential guitarist, John Squire, who is one of many famous musical names to have honoured him in their own way over the last few weeks.
Other members of The Stone Roses, as well as Primal Scream (who he joined in 1996), are expected to join the close family and friends at the service itself.
Nevertheless, we have no doubt that plenty will be observing the funeral in their own way.
So, for those of you also looking to honour him, you know what to do; and to quote the poster itself, “together we can show this local legend and his family that he was truly adored.”
Hannah Starkie -
4th March 2021 
